The League of Doorways (A Book of Vampires, Werewolves & Black Magic) (The Doorways Trilogy - Book Two) by Tim O'Rourke Read Free Book Online

at a speed that wasn’t meant to have been. And because most of it was damaged and way beyond anything they would have been able to imagine, it wasn’t always used to enlighten and advance the people, but destroy them and Endra.
    “It is believed t hat the Queen dispatched a company of her most trusted peacekeepers to investigate if there was any truth to the rumours which had reached the top of the Splinter. She feared that if such technology had truly been smuggled into Endra, than it would soon destroy her world as quickly as it was destroying Earth.”
    “So what did the peacekeepers find when they reached the Clockwork City?” Zach asked. He was interested to find out as much as possible about the race of people he was meant to be a part of.
    “They found a city in ruin,” Faraday said. “There had been a war – a war that I had been a part of but one that I can barely recall. I remember great birds taking to the skies, their wings on fire. These black and orange striped creatures came racing across the outer-rim, more machine than animal. Giant black beasts tore up the city and creatures with tusks that breathed fire torched the city.”
    “So why did Cribbot turn these animals – machines – on his own people?” Bom asked from the corner of the overhang, and the others couldn’t help but sense the fear in his voice.
    “He didn’t, as far as I can recall,” Faraday explained. “It wasn’t only the Queen who had heard the stories coming from the outer-rim – there was another.”
    “Who?” William asked.
    “A sor cerer called Throat,” Faraday said, a click-click noise suddenly coming from the back of his throat. The others watched as he lifted the skin beneath his chin and slipped two fingers beneath it. There was a whizzing noise as he pushed and prodded at the cogs and pistons he had exposed. Another series of click-click sounds came, then stopped. Faraday removed his fingers and replaced the artificial skin. “Just dust,” he said.
    Zach looked at his friends at the mention of the name Throat.
    “So what happened?” Zach asked Faraday.
    “I’m not too sure,” he explained and Zach couldn’t help but think that Faraday was trying to avoid answering his question. Machine or not, Zach sensed that Faraday was hiding something.
    “Th en we must find Cribbot’s home,” Zach said.
    “But why?” Bom grumbled.
    “Because if we are to reach the Rusty Volcano and open the box, we have to cross the outer-rim and this Clockwork City,” Zach said.
    “You can’t do that,” Faraday spoke up.
    “An d why not?” Zach asked him, staring into his jet-black eyes.
    “Thousands of those creatures that Cribbot created – the creatures Throat found a way of multiplying – still roam the outer-rim and the city,” Faraday said.
    “And that’s why we need to find the home of this Cribbot,” Zach insisted. “Perhaps we will discover a way across the outer-rim. Perhaps we’ll find a way of switching these creatures off.” Then, staring at Faraday, Zach added, “Like you, they’re just machines.”        
    “But it will be dangerous,” Bom said, getting to his feet and coming across the overhang to reason with the boy.
    “Maybe not,” Zach said, eyeing Faraday. “Perhaps the machines have all been turned off already. After all, we did find Faraday lying out in the desert. I wonder who it was that flipped your switch to the off position?” 
    Faraday said nothing and just stared emotionlessly back at Zach.
    “What happened to the peacekeepers who were sent to investigate?” Zach asked him.
    “It is rumoured that they still patrol the outer-rim, preventing anyone from entering,” Faraday said, his eyes never leaving Zach’s.
    “That’s funny,” Zach spoke with a knowing smile, “But I thought all of the peacekeepers were dead.”
    “They are,” Faraday said, and his throat made that clicking sound again. “Nothing you find in there is truly alive – not as you know